Nigel Pearson doesn’t shut door on Bristol City deadline day transfer targets they missed out on

Nigel Pearson says Bristol City could revisit the transfer targets that they missed out on in the January transfer window, this summer.

City were active on the final day of the window, as attacking pair Anis Mehmedi and Harry Cornick joined from Wycombe Wanderers and Luton Town. Chris Martin and Timm Klose were released from the club late in the day, while Dylan Kadji also completed a loan deal to Swindon Town with the transfer clock ticking down.

Despite the Robins’ activity in the market, they were unable to complete a deal for talented AFC Wimbledon left-back Jack Currie.

Although the 21-year-old was keen for a move to City, the Dons turned down four offers from the West Country side before adding in an immediate loan back clause to their ever-growing demands, which forced City to pull out of the deal.

The Robins were also unsuccessful in their pursuit of Crystal Palace defender Jake O’Brien, who is currently on loan at Belgian side RWD Molenbeek.

“The ones (players) we can’t or haven’t been able to get closer to achieving we can revisit at some other point if necessary or we move on to other targets,” Pearson said.

“I’ve said many times and I will reiterate it; we don’t want to bring players in for the sake of bringing them in.”

With no new additions in the defence and Klose departing, Pearson admitted City are left a little short at the back.

“We know that in an ideal world, we would have liked to have added one more defender but we still have good options back there too,” he said. “We’ve got versatile players who can fill in roles if needed as well so very pleased with the business.”

City’s recent switch to four at the back means their lack of centre halves is less of an issue, and with several players already having shown they can cover in that area of the pitch this season, if they can avoid injuries, they will have sufficient bodies.

Andy King, Kal Naismith, Cam Pring and George Tanner are all able to fill in at the heart of defence if needed.

With the debacle involving Currie’s move eating into the transfer clock on Tuesday evening, the City boss emphasised how vital it was for the club not to have delved into a deal they might regret, especially with their limited resources.

“One of the dangers with getting late in windows is there is pressure applied from multiple sources, let’s put it like that. We have to remain very clear on what our intentions are.

“On the last day, it is crazy how all of a sudden within the last four or five hours of it being over there are still people coming in with bizarre ideas of what they think are good moves for us. We resist those just because it is important for us to keep the balance here correct and add in the right way.”

With three new faces in Mehmedi, Cornick and Nikita Haikin, and eight outgoings in Antoine Semenyo, Dan Bentley, Han-Noah Massengo (loan), Stefan Bajic (loan), Kadji (loan), Joe Low (loan), Martin (released) and Klose (released), the manager is happy with what the club has done in the market.

“We’re pleased with the business we’ve done; we’ve been able to settle with both Timm and Chris as well which is positive for all parties.

“The loan deals we’ve done as well, Han-Noah’s loan it goes on into June and it means we’re not going to see him again but we are still able to have control over the compensation situation.

“It makes financial sense for us to do certain deals in a way that frees up some funds but keeps the international mood in the camp as positive as possible.”

The Robins travel to face Preston North End on Saturday, February 4, where Mehmedi and Cornick could make their debuts for the club.